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Maku Mozo in English means, “Don’t be fooled”. The First Zen Institute in New York City has this written over their zendo as do many other zen groups around the world. It does not mean that you have to watch out for what others say or tell you or becoming a cynic, but has to do with resolving the essential matter of life and death. Not to be fooled by the ideas and thoughts of your mind, they are NOT who you are. -------------– To study the buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the body and minds of others drop away. No trace of realization remains, and this no trace continues endlessly. From the Shobogenzo of Dogen Zengi ---------------– Chao-chou, (Joshu), was one of the greatest zen masters. He studied with Nan-Chuan, (Nansen) for 40 years until Nan-Chuan died. After that he traveled around China looking for zen teachers to help him deepen his wisdom for another 20 years. It was not until he was 80 that he settled down to teach, which he did for another 40 years. He died at the age of 120 years. If you REALLY want to enter into the gateless gate, go away to Sesshin two or three times a year for twenty years or so. Practice with a teacher whose awakening was recognized by a true teacher. This practice is not about acquiring a whole lot of knowledge about the subject. It is not about being able to give short, cool zen answers. But it is about intense personal reflection, and the wholly natural need to resolve the separation between self and other. My teacher of 20 years stressed that this practice is really very easy, just give up everything. That does not mean that you have to load all your possessions in a boat and sink them, but giving up all those ideas and opinions that color the true nature of reality. Isshu Muira Roshi said that, “You have to die on the cushion!” How many of you are willing to do that? --------------– There are a number of books that point us in the right direction, if you are interested . . . “To Know Yourself”, by Albert Low. He is a dharma heir of Kapleau Roshi in the Harada/Yasutani line. Any other book written by him is also recommended. Any book by, Bill Porter, aka, Red Pine. Red Pine has written scholarly translations of the most important sutras in the buddhist canon. He is deeply awakened and a pleasure to read. Three Pillars of Zen, by Phillip Kapleau, and other books by him. Any book written by Robert Aitken.

Shakyamuni Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. All buddhism is, is a way to end suffering. Zen, in particular, is a method of aligning yourself so that true awakening can happen. The Heart Sutra, or, "The Prajna Paramita Hridaya", is the seminal Sutra of many buddhist sect, especially Zen Buddhism. THe word, "Prajna", in Sanskrit means, "before knowledge", or "Wisdom" Wisdom is not knowledge, wisdom comes before knowledge. Zazen is a means to allow the true nature of all human beings to blossom and ripen so that we can find our way to our, "Original Dwelling Place", as Roshi Robert Aitken says. My teacher has said many times in Sesshin, that all humans eventually wind up on the cushion. We all have the innate drive to return to our Original Place. However, neither Zen or any other religion or spiritual discipline has a monopoly on awakening, or enlightenment, if you will. There are many, many ways up the mountain. For me personally, Zen is the way that has made the most sense to me and after many years of practice, I find this jewel is forever opening. If you are interested, one of the best books that I have read is one by Albert Low, who is the teacher of the Montreal Zen Center and is a Dharma heir of Phillip Kapleau Roshi. The title of this book is: "To Know Yourself", and can be bought at Amazon.com. There are used editions that are very reasonable.